East Lyme — A taproom brewery proposed for downtown Niantic reached a final step in town approval on Thursday.

The Zoning Commission unanimously approved a special permit for the taproom brewery, to be called the Niantic Public House and Brewery, at 243 Main St.

Ledyard resident Todd Sakowski, the applicant, and his wife, Jennifer, said they hope to open the roughly 3,000-square-ft. establishment by March.

Sakowski said the brewery will entail the production of ales, lagers and sour beers. The taproom, which will seat 60 people, will both serve customers on site and sell take-out growlers.

Customers will be allowed to bring in their own food. The proposed hours of operation are 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and noon to 9 or 10 p.m. on Saturday, though the business may expand its hours in the summer, he said.

"We're looking to get the crowds that are coming into town to go to the restaurants to stop at our place and then head to the restaurants, or grab a growler on their way home from the restaurants," Sakowski said.

In the next few years, Sakowski said he may also look to expand to a larger production facility, but would maintain the establishment as the storefront for the business.

Sakowski will next seek state and federal licensing to operate the taproom.

The commission had previously revised the town's zoning laws to allow a taproom brewery in a commercial zone in downtown Niantic.

On Thursday, the commission discussed restricting additional hours but decided against it.

Commission members said that they wanted to provide the business with flexibility to expand, and that state liquor laws provided safeguards.

Chairman Matthew Walker called the taproom brewery "a welcome addition to a growing downtown area."

"This will be a really unique addition to what's already down there, and it's exciting to see these kinds of applications come before the commission," he said.

k.drelich@theday.com

Twitter: @KimberlyDrelich